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1 I927. 1,620,665. March -u. KO LER DRIVING DEVICE OF COUNTING MECHANISM IN MACHINES FOR FRANKING POSTAL MATTER AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 8, (1925 Patented Mar. 15, 1927.

: airs s ratus ULRICH KOI-IL'ER, or BERN, SWITZERLAND, ASSIGNOE r0 HASLER as. voaMALs 'rnLnGnarnnnwEnK-srmrr: you s. HASLER, or BERN, SWITZERLAND, A swrss CO OR I N- IDRIVING DEVICE 0F COUNTING 'IiTEQHANISM IN MACHINES FOR FRANKING POSTAL MATTER AND THE LIKE.

A lication filed September 18, 1826, ScriaI No. 134,214, and in Switzerland September 14, 1925.

My invention relates to driving devices for counting mechanism in machines for franking posts matter and the like by means of dies or stamps, of the kind where in counting devices are arranged in a circle concentric-ally about the shaft of a rotatable die-carrier, each of which counting devices can be driven in a predetermined angular position of the die-carrier different from that of the others by a pinion having an even number of teeth. All these pinions are held against rotation when not in the position, in which the associated counting device is to be driven, by a locking disc that is common to all the pinions. This locking disc has in its periphery a notch or recess normally bridged over by a slide.

Heretoforerthis slide was held flush with the periphery of the locking disc by means of a coil spring, and was forced back against the action of this spring by the pinion situated within range of it. It has frequently been found, however, that this spring becomes weak or fractures owing to too great tension, so that the slide no longer fulfils its purpose.

This invention has for its main object to obviate this defect and to provide an improved driving device for the counting mechanism in machines of the kind de scribed.

To this end, according to the invention the slide is arranged on a positively controlled member, so that the spring need not be used.

Other features of the invention will be described hereinafter and pointed out in the claims.

One embodiment of the invention is diagrammatically illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing, where- 1n:-

F igure 1 is a vertical section through a counter driving-device according to the in vention, and

Figures 2 and 3 are side elevations thereof in two different positions.

According to the drawing, a shaft 1 carries a disc-shaped wheel 2 that serves as a die-carrier and carries on its periphery eight dies or stamps 2 whereof only three are shown in Figure 2. Counting devices 3, one allotted to each die, are arranged around the shaft 1, which devices are rotatably mounted between two circular discs 5 fast on the shaft 1 and together constitute a. counter-cage. Each counting device is driven in wellknown manner by a shaft 4 which is journaledin the discs 5 and carries at one end a pinion 6 having eight teeth. These pin- 1OI1S 6 have one part oftheir breadth oven lappmg anon-rotatable lockingedisc 7 mounted on the shaft 1. Each second tooth of the pinion 6 is shorter by the breadth of the disc 7. A part of the periphery of the latter extends into the gap between two long teeth and thereby prevents rotation of all the pinions 6. The disc 7 has a recess or notch 8 that opens towards the periphery;

When the die-carrier is set in a predetermined position, the shaft 1 with the two discs 5 carrying the counting devices is turned until the pinion 6 of the counting .device allotted-to the die or stamp to be printed is situated opposite the recess 8 of the disc 7, in which position it lies within range of a mutilated feed wheel 10 that has only two teeth and is rotatable about an axle 9. This wheel 10 is firmly connected with a gear wheel 11 which is free to rotate on the axis 9 and is driven by spur gears 12, 13 by the driving mechanism of the machine.

In order that the periphery of the disc 7 at the recess 8 shall generally be closed, the latter is bridged by a slide 14: formed by a laterally projecting lug of a vertically slidable link 15. The lower end of this link forked and embraces the shaft 1, whilst its upper part has an opening 16 in which lies a cam 17 that is arranged between the wheels 10 and 11' and is firmly connected with the latter. This cam 17 has a flat face- 18 on the side opposite the teeth of the mutilated wheel 10. The edge of the opening 16 has at the upper side a nose or projection 19.

hen the machine is driven for producing an impression of a die or stamp, the wheels 13, 12, 11, the cam 17 and the wheel 10 are rotated. The starting position of the latter is shown in Figure 2. The wheel 10 and the pinion 6 between it and the recess 8 are usually not in mesh, and the link 15 lies with its projection 19 on the circular part of thecain 17, so that the link 15 and slide 14 cannot move downwards. The slide 14 thus prevents the pinion 6 bearing on it from being rotated. When the wheel 10 rotates and its teeth mesh with the said pinion 6, the flat face 18 arrives under the projection 19. At the same time the pinion 6 in question is rotated by the wheel 10, while the link 15 with the slide 14 is thereby moved downwards. As the pinion 6 rotates, the counting device allotted to it is ad vanced. lVhen the wheel 10 becomes disengaged from the pinion 6 the circular partof the cam 17 moves back under the projection 19 whereby the link 15 and slide 14 are -m0ved upwards again and the. pinion 6 is locked afresh by the slide 14:.

As will be understood from the above the pinions 6 and their allotted counting devices can be driven only at one point in their path,

- namely in a position corresponding to the recess in the disc 7 The slide 14 is positively controlled by the link 15 whereby the fracture of springs and consequent failure of operation referred to above is obviated.

I claim 1. In a driving device of the character described, the combination with a shaft, of a locking disc mounted on said shaft and having a recess in its periphery, a plurality of pinions arranged to move about said disc and adapted to be locked thereby against rotation, except when opposite said recess, a slide movable radially in said recess and arranged to open and close the same, and a positively driven member carrying said slide.

2. In a driving device. of the character described, the combination with a shaft, of a locking disc mounted on saidshaft and having a recess in its periphery, a plurality of counter operating pinions arranged to move about said disc and adapted to be locked thereby against rotation, except one that is situated opposite said recess, a slide movable radially in said recess, a link rigidly carrying said slide, and a cam for moving said link.

3. In a driving device of the character described, the combination with a shaft, of a locking disc mounted on said shaft and having a recess in its periphery, a plurality of counter-actuating pinions arranged to move about said disc and adapted to be locked thereby against rotation, except one that is at said recess, a link movable radially of said shaft, a slide rigidly carried by said link and movable in said recess, a rotatable cam in said link arranged to move said link in one direction so as to cause said slide to close said recess, and a mutilated wheel secured to said cam and arranged to cooperate with a pinion at the recess.

Signed at Bern, Switzerland, this twen ty-seventh day of August 1926.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ULRICH KOHLER. 

